S5 

COVID-19 in Pregnancy: A Maternal Compromise 
 

Jason Ng Kit Fai1, Amalina Che Din1, Celine Mien Er Fong1 

 
  

 

Abstract 

Few studies have reported the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 

(SARS-CoV-2) on pregnancy albeit the exact mechanism of maternal compromise requiring 

escalated management is not known. This case demonstrated how a pregnant woman 

deteriorated and recovered from COVID-19 after delivery. A 37-year-old lady, G4P3, at 29 

weeks gestation presented with reduced fetal movement, fever, chest pain and cough, with a 

background of gestational diabetes. She was proven positive for COVID-19 and was started on 

treatment promptly. Initially, she was maintaining her oxygen saturations but later deteriorated 

despite maximum oxygen therapy. She was escalated to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 

treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation requiring up to a FiO2 – 0.7. In view of the 

patient's best interest, multiple Multidisciplinary Team discussions took place and unanimously 

decided to proceed with emergency lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia 

which was uneventful. She made gradual recovery and was discharged from ICU after 2 weeks. 

During her admission, she was found to be MRSA positive from her Caesarean section wound 

and was treated accordingly. Both mother and baby were fit for discharge after 1 month of 

admission. There is a lack of evidence regarding implications of COVID-19 on pregnancy. 

Gestational diabetes on top of the physiological immunosuppressed status may put pregnant 

women in a vulnerable group. Further studies are required to identify factors generating 

increased rate of surgical intervention, preterm deliveries, and ICU admission in COVID-19 

positive pregnancies. 

Keywords: COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, gestational diabetes 

 

1. Scunthorpe General Hospital, United Kingdom 

  

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0-2.322 

http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v5i0-2.322